Draft - September 2024 Meeting
Draft - HCA Meeting Minutes September 5, 2024
Zoom meeting attendees: 28
Officers:
Tamara Srader, President
Mark Rogers, Vice President
Michelle Arsenault, Secretary
Official meeting called to Order @19:34 (7:34 pm).
In lieu of its regular meeting the HCA hosted speakers from the Fairfax County Department of Transportation and Supervisor Storck’s office to talk about the traffic study of Huntington Ave and the proposed Road Diet project.
Guests:
Peyton Smith of Supervisor Storck’s office.
Zack Dujardin
Hannah Cacner
Sean Schweitzer
The speakers shared slides and highlighted a few of the proposed changes. If approved, the project would be implemented next year (2025)
Huntington Ave was widened from 2 lanes to 4 lanes in the 80’s when Metro was built.
The current study of Huntington Ave included reviewing safety issues, crashes, speeding, and cut through traffic.
Fairfax County DOT has implemented 30+ road diets in the area.
The Huntington Road Diet proposal would convert 4-lanes into 2, add turn lanes, and may allow for bike lanes.
Proposed stop-sign at Huntington and Kathryn, so cars exiting the highway ramp must stop instead of merging.
Several benefits and improvements: Crosswalk safety buffer (refuge islands), left turn lanes would reduce speeding, improved bicycle safety (buffered) by connecting to Mt Vernon Trail, the Carlyle neighborhood, and recreational trails along Hunting Creek.
Significant changes require a traffic study, which was done in the spring. They will share the results on the website soon. The study found that in 2022 there were about 13K cars/day on Huntington, which was a decrease from 2019, when there were 16K/day. Note: pre-and-post pandemic data.
The proposal includes minimal changes along Richmond Highway - would add a 7-second delay during peak hours.
Proposing green painted bike lanes (may be omitted from final design)
There is a virtual public meeting on Wednesday October 9 at 7 p.m. There is a comment period/survey that closes October 25. Email for questions: DOTbicycleprograms@fairfaxcountry.gov
Members askes several questions about the proposed traffic lane changes, crash data, bike lines, lack of safe crossings along Huntington between Biscayne to Berkshire Court, pedestrian safety, bicycle safety, and auto safety.
Residents supported more crosswalks, and the bikeshare stations on Huntington.
Someone expressed concerns about trying to make a left from side streets onto Huntington Ave, which is difficult during peak traffic, and is hoping the changes will help.
Peyton noted that an extra crosswalk at Fenwick was approved.
Supervisor Storck is assessing trail connections under Rt 1
Jason asked if there was any indication about how VDOT was leaning. It has been challenging working with VDOT over the last few years. There is a traffic threshold at which VDOT will not consider a road diet, and the traffic survey indicating 16K cars/day is below the threshold.
Hunting Mews is concerned most about pedestrian safety, and advocated for better signage, and maybe flashing lights. Those items are not part of this project, but they are looking at it.
A member asked if redoing Huntington would affect surrounding redevelopment plans, such as the Huntington club.
Repaving Huntington is part of the plan, and a member noted the low point in front of the Metro entrance (at the kiss-n-ride) that floods every time it rains.
A member asked about sidewalks on Huntington Ave? If they are out of ADA compliance then they will be brought up to code, but otherwise, they won’t be changed.
Peyton suggested the Associations write letters to Supervisor Storck’s office this month, with concerns and asks.
The meeting was adjourned at 20:00.
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